University of Virginia Library

8419. TESTS, Religious.—

The proscribing
any citizen as unworthy the public confidence,
by laying upon him an incapacity of
being called to offices of trust or emolument,
unless he profess or renounce this or that religious
opinion, is depriving him injudiciously
of those privileges and advantages, to which
in common with his fellow citizens, he has
a natural right.—
Statute of Religious Freedom. Ford ed., ii, 238.
(1779)